Colombia votes in presidential race over reformspresidential race over reforms and security
Colombians voted on Sunday in a presidential election that is pitting allies of President Gustavo Petro against right-wing rivals promising tougher security policies.
The race could head to a June runoff, and the outcome will shape how the country responds to armed groups, violence, and economic reform.
Petro-aligned camp
Supporters of the governing camp say the vote is a choice about continuing social and economic reforms. They argue that dialogue and state-led change offer a better path than a return to hardline policing.
Right-wing candidates
Opposition candidates present the election as a decision on restoring security and order. They say harsher measures against armed groups are needed after years of instability and violence.
- Colombia has one of Latin America’s oldest and most complex internal conflicts.
- Bogotá sits high in the Andes, making it one of the world’s largest mountain capitals.
- The country is a major global exporter of coffee and cut flowers.
